Berg: In the Footsteps of King Ludwig II

The Votive Chapel in Berg is a historic memorial site and also the starting point for a hike along the King Ludwig Trail. An audio walk with stops in several places and the observatory in the municipality of Berg offer further ways to explore the area—from a cultural walk to observing planets. You can choose between a clearly described hiking route, audio stops available on demand, and cultural and historical discoveries.

Votive Chapel and Memorial Sites

The Votive Chapel in Berg Palace Park was built in the Neo-Romanesque style. In June 1896, on the tenth anniversary of King Ludwig II’s death, Prince Regent Luitpold laid the chapel’s foundation stone. On June 13, 1886, King Ludwig II had been found lifeless after a walk with Prof. von Gudden. A simple wooden cross in the shallow waters of Lake Starnberg, below the Votive Chapel, marks the spot. Every year, around June 13, a solemn memorial Mass for King Ludwig II is held at the chapel. If you would like to attend the Mass, check the current arrangements in advance.

Hiking Trail or Audio Walk?

The King Ludwig Trail begins at the Votive Chapel in Berg and leads through Starnberg and the Maisinger Gorge to Maising. Its route therefore follows a clear sequence, with a starting point and named places along the way. On maps and signs throughout the wider region, the King Ludwig Trail is marked with a blue “K” topped by a crown on a white background.

The free King Ludwig II audio walk offers a different way to explore: its seven stops are located in Starnberg, Kempfenhausen, Berg, and Leoni. They have no set order and can be accessed independently; the walk is suitable for all ages. Unlike the described hiking route, you can access the stops individually and in any order. This difference makes planning easy: either follow the trail through Starnberg and the Maisinger Gorge to Maising, or use the audio stops whenever you like.

Culture and Planet Watching in the Municipality

The Berg Cultural Walk explains places of cultural and historical interest in the municipality of Berg with information panels. It focuses on the municipality and its cultural history. Also in the municipality, the Berg Observatory offers the opportunity to observe planets in the solar system. What you can see depends on the planets’ current positions. Features include Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud bands and some of its moons, as well as the polar ice caps of Mars.

The municipality of Berg also includes the Bismarck Tower near Assenhausen. It is the only Bismarck monument in Upper Bavaria whose planning and construction began during Bismarck’s lifetime. The tower was inaugurated on July 1, 1899. Together with the Votive Chapel and places associated with King Ludwig II, it adds another historical point of interest.

In the Wider Starnberg Destination

The wider Starnberg destination also offers distinct places to visit. At Bucentaur Park in Starnberg, bathing and swimming in Lake Starnberg are prohibited by order of the lake navigation company because the shipyard harbor is immediately adjacent. Check the current regulations before visiting. The listed lido in Feldafing remains largely in its original 1927 condition. Its seasonal operating schedule may change; check the latest information before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Weßling, Herrsching on Lake Ammer, Andechs, Feldafing, Wörthsee, Starnberg, Gilching, Inning on Lake Ammer.

Back to the main travel overview: Starnberg.